On Friday, Spotify announced that Apple has approved an update following a federal judge’s order for the tech company to pause its billing committee for app purchases.
The music streaming service quickly rolled out improvements on Thursday. This change will let users see pricing information, access more links, and expand their purchasing options. In a blog post, the company shared, “After nearly a decade, this will give you the freedom to show transparent pricing information and links, promoting better choice for consumers in the U.S.”
Though there’s still more to do, Spotify’s update marks a significant milestone for developers who wish to compete on a more equal footing. Users can now purchase subscriptions directly through the app, allowing for upgrades or plan changes, and they can use payment methods outside of Apple’s own system.
This update came after Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple had been violating a 2021 injunction related to the Epic Games case, a decision that she found quite serious. Rogers pointed out that Apple’s vice president, Alex Roman, “completely lied” regarding the timing of a 27% commission on certain purchases linked to the App Store.
She has ordered Apple to halt this commission on purchases made through the app, furthermore passing the matter to a U.S. attorney to consider potential criminal proceedings.
Apple stated it would comply with the ruling but indicated it would “strongly” oppose and appeal the decision.
In a past ruling from the Epic Games case, which is still under appeal, Rogers instructed Apple to allow developers to facilitate purchases outside its ecosystem, thus enabling links to be made within iPhone apps.
Initially, Apple was meant to refrain from imposing fees on outside purchases. However, in 2024, they introduced a new policy that allows a 27% fee on some of these transactions, which is less than the 30% generally collected from in-app purchases.
Rogers noted that Apple consistently opted for “the most anti-competitive option” in terms of its purchase link policies.
Interestingly, Epic Games won a legal battle against the Google Play Store in 2024, prompting a federal judge to mandate that the company permit alternative app stores on its devices.
